EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Dwarf Croc Captured

Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis osborni), Family Crocodylidae
Botuali Village, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Explanation:  Yesterday, we hiked six miles into the Congo River Basin rainforests from where we left our dugout canoes along a remote channel offshoot of Lake Tumba.  We are visiting the village of Botuali, and are suddenly met with excited shouts.

Someone in the village has captured a dwarf crocodile, and has brought it, bound for its safety and ours, back to our hut for display.  

Dwarf crocodiles are one of the most unusual species of its crocodilian family, usually growing to just 1-1.3 m (about 3-4 feet) long.  

This is a species of central tropical Africa, residing in static or slow-moving swamp waters.  It is largely nocturnal and feeds on frogs and crabs.

Although it can lay up to 20 eggs at a time, it is widely hunted for bushmeat and has become endangered.

The head is blunt and broad, probably an adaptation to its feeding behavior.
 

The tail narrows quickly from the base, and is laterally
flattened to aid in swimming in the swamps and flooded
forests of its habitat.
 

Dwarf crocodiles are also distinguished by having
prominent eyes, again perhaps an adaptation to
seeing in the very low light conditions
of the jungle floor and in murky waters.
 

We measured this specimen, snout to tail tip, as 117 cm (3.8 ft).

Note how three of the digits are 
clawed and two are not.

The specific epithet of the scientific name of dwarf crocodile is
"tetraspis," which means "four shields," so named
for the four bony plates on the back of the neck.

And finally, this story has a bit of a sad ending.  

The villagers indeed used this specimen as bushmeat for a dinner celebration.  

But lest we condemn them, we need to be in their situation of extreme remoteness, no access to river traffic for goods, no stores or electricity or running water, with only seasonal agricultural crops for some food, and a village full of hungry children.  

Having spent much time in a number of remote Congo villages, I can surely understand the need for food, protein, and caring for family members.  

So goes our ever-crowded world.